The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1887-04-22

or took long gallops on horseback over the
surrounding country, that reminded one of
Guizot's saying: Gentlemen, you cannot get
high enough to reach the level of my con-
tempt" He had come back from England
free man. He was slowly losing the name OF
"Fred Douglass, the runaway niger" He
stood at bay with the bitter prejudices of the
community. The mission to which he had
devoted himself-the emancipation Of his peo-
ple-had the sympathy of but an ostracised
minority. He lectured continuously The
Office of The North Star, his weekly paper,
was beacon light of abolitionisfn The New
York Herald wondered why Rochester did
not throw the niger printing press and its
editor into Lake Ontario. Few knew what
hard work the editor of The North Star was
doing in those days-hardly ten years out Of
bondage-fettered by a crude and narrow
education, he must educate himself, write
creditably for the public and maintain his
reputation as a public speaker. His home
was blest with the best of housekeepers.
His wife, free woman. had done
much to al him in go.-..ig his
freedom. They lived most respectfully,
and their children were remarkably well
bred; in fact, there was an aristocratic air
about the Douglass children that saved them
from a world of snubbing Foreigners of
distinction came to Rochester to see Fretler-
ick Douglass, for he was then more of a Curl
osity than now. The event which somewhat
overheated the blood of conservative Roches-
ter was when two English ladies arrived and
became members of the Douglass household,
walking openly ON the street with the distin-
guished mulatto, one ON either arm as a rule,
their English dress and peculiarities making
them otherwise conspicuous They were
ladies of means and education. jealous Abo-
litionists. who had chosen to come and aid
Frederick Douglass all they could. The
younger of them was soon married to a
prominent Abolitionist, white man. The
elder, woman of superior literary and
executive ability, braved out her so
journ in the Douglass family and
office for several years. seemingly oblivious
of the comments of the community Her assist
ance to Frederick Douglass at this critical
and laborious time of his life was to him at
least Invaluable. She urged him to rewrite
his autobiography, which had been published
in Boston i'll 1915, which he did, improving it
greatly by additions and amplifications. The
book, "My Bondage and My Freedom still
has large SALE 1t was the basis of It's
writer's present prosperity. He wrote it in
the rambling house OH the hill south of the
city, the house in which John Brown, as his
guest, planned the raid on Harper's Ferry
and built his miniature forts. John Brown
wrote out the constitution of his proposed new
republic in the library of that house. taking
long tramps over the hills while formulating
the same. The visit was something of bore
to Douglass, but Douglass was hospita-
BILE, and, although not approving of
Browns scheme, had respect for
the old mans convictions. 1t was from
that house Douglass barely escaped, after
John Browns arrest when the marshals were
looking for him. The old library desk bears
the marks to-day of its having been broken
open by his son, in answer to secret tele
gram, saving that constitution from falling
into the hands of the officers. 1t was there
his daughter Annie died, not long after his
fight, her illness caused by anxiety about her
father The historical old house was de-
stroyed by fire in 1872. The locality has
greatly changed since. The Douglass home
stood isolated ON the woody hill side. Not
long before going to Europe Douglass wrote
to friend in Rochester to see what resi-
dence in the old neighborhood could be bought
fora handsome house and grounds he would
like-but he has not yet purchased. The present
Mrs. Douglass is from western New York
her old home being some thirty miles from
Rochester. She is descendent of the Pitts
who settled Pittsford.
A marked characteristic of Frederick
Douglass is his love for music Wnen but a
little fellow he would go up to athe great
house" to hear the violin play for the dancers
The fiddler, he says, did not play common
airs, but the best music, and while he listened
everything else. Love of music drew him to
the Methodist meetings, for the singing was
music to him, and he joined in with a WILL
1t was at these meetings he began to speak in
public, and discovered how well he could talk
and the pleasure in being praised for the
same. When Sunday school exhibition by
the free negroes was in prospect he found
chance for exercising his budding oratory.
He bought speaker with the atips" his
master had given him for backing boots, and
selected piece with plenty of big words
a college Grafton wherein was expounded
what man can do by imagination. The words
were Greek to him, but he particularly liked
rolling out: aHe can soar aloft where stars
glitter on the mantle of light and more
effulgent sun lights up the bushes of morn
ing"
Talking with Frederick Douglass one is
sometimes inclined to think that, interesting
as his autobiography is, lt does not Contain
many Of the most interesting experiences Of
his life, those he once thought, perhaps. in
Significant to the public. On his wife's piano
at Cedar Hill you may see the very same
music book that be slipped into his bundle
when he skipped out of Maryland. It IS
worth something to see him standing with his
violin singing with Mrs. Douglass those old
aSeraplin hymns. If yon breakfast with him
OH Sunday morning he win pass you with
his own hand the Maryland biscuits, and is it
not worth knowing that they are just like the